Universal Robots (UR), the most trusted and widely-deployed collaborative robot (cobot) manufacturer in the world, on 17 Sep 2019, announces the immediate availability of the UR16e which boasts an impressive 16 kg payload capability.

UR16e combines the high payload with an arm reach of 900 mm and has a pose repeatability, the ability to precisely reproduce the same desired poses or positions, on repeat, of +/- 0.05 mm. This makes it ideal for automating tasks such as heavy-duty material handling, heavy-part handling, and machine tending.

“In today’s uncertain economic climate manufacturers need to look at flexible solutions to stay competitive,” said Jürgen von Hollen, President of Universal Robots. “With UR16e, we meet the need for a collaborative robot that can tackle heavy-duty tasks reliably and efficiently. This launch significantly expands the versatility of our product portfolio and gives manufacturers even more ways to improve performance, overcome labour challenges, and grow their business.”

Cobots are increasingly deployed in non-traditional industries such as hospitality and medical. In Singapore, UR cobots are programmed for all kinds of tasks, from manufacturing, to preparing bowls of laksa curry noodles, to assisting in massages. In Vietnam and Thailand, robots are also used in hospitals to assist in surgeries.

Developed on UR’s innovative e-Series platform, the UR16e offers immense benefits, capabilities and value for manufacturers, including:

• Fast and frictionless deployment with easy programming and a small footprint

UR16e makes accelerating automation easy and fast. Programming and integration is simple – regardless of the user’s experience or knowledge base. Like all UR’s cobots, UR16e can be unpacked, mounted and programmed to perform a task within less then an hour. With a small footprint and 900 mm reach, UR16e easily integrates into any production environment without disruption.

• Addresses ergonomic challenges while lowering cost

With 16 kg payload, UR16e eliminates the ergonomic and productivity challenges associated with lifting and moving heavy parts and products, lowering costs, and reducing downtime. 

• Ideal for heavy-duty material handling and machine tending

Rugged and reliable, UR16e is ideal for automating high-payload and CNC machine tending applications, including multi-part handling, without compromising on precision. 

Like with UR’s other e-Series cobots; UR3e, UR5e and UR10e, the UR16e includes built-in force sensing, 17 configurable safety functions, including customisable stopping time and stopping distance, and an intuitive programming flow. UR16e meets the most demanding compliance regulations and safety standards for unobstructed human-robot collaboration, including EN ISO 13849-1, PLd, Category 3, and full EN ISO 10218-1.

Southeast Asia is Embracing Robot Adoption

Southeast Asian countries significantly outperform the rest of the world in robot adoption while Europe and the United States (US) lag behind according to the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation. Singapore is the region’s frontrunner and has the second highest robot density globally with 658 robots per 10,000 workers, followed by Thailand and Malaysia with 48 and 45 units each.

Built To Do More

UR has changed the paradigm of automation in manufacturing. While its portfolio of cobots has been empowering manufacturers to compete, win and grow for a decade, today’s solution is built to do even more. Unlike traditional automation solutions that are costly, complex and dangerous, UR gives manufacturers of any size what they need to accelerate automation with cobots that are easy-to-deploy, with intuitive programming and zero disruption to production lines or workflows.

Today, UR has more than 37,000 cobots on the job around the world. They perform tedious and critical tasks across several thousand production environments, including assembly, pick and place, polishing, palletizing, machine tending and screw- and nut driving. With UR+, an open ecosystem of certified products, and UR Academy, free-of-charge online robot training, implementing the best possible cobot solution for the unique requirements of any manufacturing operation is seamless and cost-effective, with quick payback, low total cost of ownership and high return on investment.